Elizabeth Edwards, 61, Dies After Cancer Battle

WASHINGTON (AP) — A family friend says Elizabeth Edwards has died of cancer. The friend says the estranged wife of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards died in North Carolina Tuesday morning.

The friend spoke on the condition of anonimity because the family had not announced her death.

*More information to be included when it becomes available.

Speak Up! YakkityYak’s Best (and Worst) of 2010


Mike & Molly. The Walking Dead. Jon Stewart. Bret Michaels. Miley Cyrus. Sarah Palin. Modern Family. Glee. Cee-Lo. Eminem. Chilean Miner Rescue. Inception. Tina Fey. Mad Men. Ellen Degeneres. Survivor. The Amazing Race.

So many names and words to throw around to take you on a journey of the events of 2010. What stood out the most for you? We here at the Yak want to give you the chance to vote for the best and worst moments of 2010. Who better to determine this than YOU?! Member voices were already heard with nominations. What made the cut? Be sure to check out our VOTING BOOTH for the official polls of 2010. We’re still a month away from 2011, but let’s take a trip down memory lane and re-live some of your favorite moments of 2010! We’ve got everything covered from movies to music to TV to reality TV and more! You can join our forums for free to make your voice heard. So what’re you waiting for?? Get on in!

Special thanks to our very own member sas0327 for her graphic expertise in everything Best of 2010!

Breaking News: Actor Leslie Nielsen Dies

More information to be posted as soon as we can gather it, but Leslie Nielson, 84, has died due to complications from pneumonia in a hospital near his home in Florida Sunday night. Stand by for more information as it becomes available.

Update [10:03pm EST]: Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Leslie Nielsen, who traded in his dramatic persona for inspired bumbling as a hapless doctor in “Airplane!” and the accident-prone detective Frank Drebin in “The Naked Gun” comedies, died on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 84.

The Canadian-born actor died from complications from pneumonia at a hospital near his home at 5:34 p.m., surrounded by his wife, Barbaree, and friends, his agent John S. Kelly said in a statement.

“We are saddened by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in ‘The Naked Gun’ series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60-year career in motion pictures and television,” said Kelly.

We here at the Yak would like to extend our best wishes, thoughts and prayers to the Nielson family and friends as they go through this tough time.

Nielsen came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s after performing in 150 live television dramas in New York. With a craggily handsome face, blond hair and 6-foot-2 height, he seemed ideal for a movie leading man.

Nielsen first performed as the king of France in the Paramount operetta “The Vagabond King” with Kathryn Grayson.

The film — he called it “The Vagabond Turkey” — flopped, but MGM signed him to a seven-year contract.

His first film for that studio was auspicious — as the space ship commander in the science fiction classic “Forbidden Planet.” He found his best dramatic role as the captain of an overturned ocean liner in the 1972 disaster movie, “The Poseidon Adventure.”

He became known as a serious actor, although behind the camera he was a prankster. That was an aspect of his personality never exploited, however, until “Airplane!” was released in 1980 and became a huge hit.

As the doctor aboard a plane in which the pilots, and some of the passengers, become violently ill, Nielsen says they must get to a hospital right away.

“A hospital? What is it?” a flight attendant asks, inquiring about the illness.

“It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now,” Nielsen deadpans.

When he asks a passenger if he can fly the plane, the man replies, “Surely you can’t be serious.”

Nielsen responds: “I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley.”

Critics argued he was being cast against type, but Nielsen disagreed.

“I’ve always been cast against type before,” he said, adding comedy was what he’d really always wanted to do.

It was what he would do for most of the rest of his career, appearing in such comedies as “Repossessed” (a takeoff on the demonic possession movies like “The Exorcist”) and “Mr. Magoo,” in which he played the title role of the good-natured bumbler.

Nielsen did play Debbie Reynolds’ sweetheart in the popular “Tammy and the Bachelor,” a loanout to Universal, and he became well known to baby boomers for his role as the Revolutionary War fighter Francis Marion in the Disney TV adventure series “The Swamp Fox.”

Unhappy with his roles at MGM, he asked to be released from his contract. As a freelancer, he appeared in a series of undistinguished movies.

“I played a lot of leaders, autocratic sorts; perhaps it was my Canadian accent,” he reasoned.

Meanwhile, he remained active in television in guest roles. He also starred in his own series, “The New Breed,” “The Protectors” and “Bracken’s World,” but all were short-lived.

Then “Airplane!” captivated audiences and changed everything.

Producers-directors-writers Jim Abrahams, David and Jerry Zucker had hired Robert Stack, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges and Nielsen to spoof their heroic TV images in a satire of flight-in-jeopardy movies.

After the movie’s success, the filmmaking trio cast their newfound comic star as Detective Drebin in a TV series, “Police Squad,” which trashed the cliches of “Dragnet” and other cop shows. Despite good reviews, NBC canceled it after only four episodes.

“It didn’t belong on TV,” Nielsen later commented. “It had the kind of humor you had to pay attention to.”

The Zuckers and Abraham converted the series into a feature film, “The Naked Gun,” with George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson and Priscilla Presley as Nielsen’s co-stars. Its huge success led to sequels “The Naked Gun 2 1/2” and “The Naked Gun 33 1/3.”

The elder Nielsen was a troubled man who beat his wife and sons, and Leslie longed to escape. As soon as he graduated from high school at 17, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, even though he was legally deaf (he wore hearing aids most of his life.)

After the war, Nielsen worked as a disc jockey at a Calgary radio station, then studied at a Toronto radio school operated by Lorne Greene, who would go on to star on the hit TV series “Bonanza.” A scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse brought him to New York, where he immersed himself in live television.

Nielsen also was married to: Monica Boyer, 1950-1955; Sandy Ullman, 1958-74; and Brooks Oliver, 1981-85.

Nielsen and his second wife had two daughters, Thea and Maura.

We here at the Yak would like to extend our best wishes, thoughts and prayers to the Nielson family and friends as they go through this tough time.

Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner – She Wins DWTS

In 1987 a movie was released which, for at least this article writer, defined a generation. It was the movie of my adolescence and was the only thing that replaced a heavy childhood crush on Michael J. Fox with a crush on “Johnny Castle” (or Patrick Swazye, lol). This movie was “Dirty Dancing”. And it immortalized the line “Nobody puts Baby in the corner” which, despite it’s overuse as of late, especially by me, completely fits with the star crowned the champion of Dancing With The Stars Season 11. Last night, Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough were crowned those champions ending a run that seemed to be called by many before the season even started. However, they weren’t without competition; there was a great field of talent this season and as seen by Bristol Palin’s improbable run to the finals, a great contingent of dedicated voters.

Jennifer Grey danced through some horrific injuries, stemming from a decades old car accident that she and at the time boyfriend Matthew Broderick were involved in. She wasn’t perfect all the time, her and Derek had their down weeks. But through it all, they made it to the end and won. I’m sure Johnny Castle/Patrick Swayze would be very proud, Baby stayed out of the corner! Tell us what you think in our forum here what you think of the results, and of the season!

Cookie Monster Plea to Host SNL!

Yep, it’s true! Cookie Monster has submitted his very own audition tape to host SNL. Our beloved blue monster has kicked off his viral campaign, starting with this perfect audition tape. Watch below to see Cookie re-enact a full SNL episode, including his own take of MacGruber, the Weekend Update, and the musical guest spot featuring “Monster Gaga.” Yes, it’s in fact, real. There is even a Facebook Group to rally support! Click HERE to join the group!

If history repeats itself, then Cookie may have a chance. Betty White did it!

‘SYTYCD:’ Mia Michaels OUT, Mary Murphy IN

We have another change at the judge’s table next summer for So You Think You Can Dance. After joining the judge’s panel for one season, Mia Michaels is out and will not be retuning to the show. In a statement she released, she said that she wants to focus on her own world. (Editor’s note: Wasn’t she always concerned with Mia’s world??). Mia does make a point to state that the decision was her decision and not Lythgoe or any show runner. “Last year when I was sitting on the panel, I knew it wasn’t the right fit because I felt too glossy sitting on the panel. People were so focused on what I wore and my hair. I wanted to get dirty and back to the work. I am an artist and I’m a visionary. I need to paint my world now and not be constantly linked to So You Think You Can Dance. It’s been a great platform,” Michaels says. “It was a wonderful platform. I’m staring at [my] two Emmys right now. It was an amazing, amazing thing for me but I feel like I have to fly. I have to now focus on Mia’s world.” Well, and focus on Mia’s world she will do. She has an upcoming Bravo reality show, will be writing her own memoir, and is developing her own Broadway show.

Who will be replacing her? According to Mia, she’s heard that Mary Murphy will be back to the table placing claim to her chair and bringing us back her hot tamale train. SYTYCD will return next summer for the latest installment. So Yakkster’s what do you think about the news? Excited? Bummed? Let us know below and join our FORUMS to discuss!

Pink is ‘eating for two,’ as Pregnancy Rumors Confirmed

Today on your televisions everywhere, Pink confirmed to Ellen Degeneres that the rumors are true…she is with child! Pink and husband Carey Hart have been working on having a child together for some time, she revealed. Her doctor thinks the newest addition to their family is a girl! Pink and Hart were hesitant on announcing her pregnancy as the singer previously suffered a miscarriage. Pink went on to describe her relationship with Hart. “We worked really hard and we had our little meltdowns, a couple of them, and now, we’re honestly, we both needed to do that and come back together. It’s just yummy.”

Congratulations to Pink and Carey Hart on their pregnancy. We here at the Yak wish for a safe and healthy journey to parenthood! Post your congratulations below and join our FORUMS to discuss!

Flashback Friday: The First African American Woman Elected To Congress

On this day in history, November 5th, 1968, Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) became the first African American woman elected to serve as a representative to Congress. Shirley was an expert on early childhood education and served as a consultant to the NYC Bureau of Child Welfare before being elected to the state assembly. She was elected to Congress as a Democrat (good girl), and was a vocal critic on the Vietnam War as well as being a great advocate for the urban poor. Although she was unsuccessful in her 1992 bid for a presidential nomination she remains a pillar and beacon for the Civil Rights movement. She was elected, on this day in history……..

Breaking: Michael Jackson Album Announcement

New York, NY – The much anticipated album of newly completed recordings from Michael Jackson entitled MICHAEL will be released on December 14 by Epic Records in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson. Tomorrow, an exclusive teaser for the project will appear on www.michaeljackson.com; on Monday, November 8th the world premiere of “Breaking News,” a full track from the album, will stream on the site for one week only.

The creative process never stopped for the King of Pop who was always planning for his next album; unbeknownst to many fans around the world Michael Jackson was writing and recording songs continuously everywhere from a friend’s home in New Jersey to studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with a small group of handpicked collaborators. Now, through the unique stories that will be told about the songs that comprise MICHAEL, fans will get mind-blowing insight into how this artist worked and a chance to hear the songs he most recently created along with tracks that Michael had a desire to bring to fruition.

“Breaking News,” a never heard before song by Michael that appears on the new album was recorded in New Jersey in 2007 and recently brought to completion. Fans can begin pre-ordering the album on www.michaeljackson.com in the next 24 hours.

The attached image of the album cover of MICHAEL was created by painter Kadir Nelson in 2009. In the oil painting, Kadir – who is known for story telling through his art – takes us on a journey through some key moments and important people in Michael Jackson’s life.

Stay tuned for the worldwide launch of the official first single from MICHAEL later this month.
www.michaeljackson.com

Press Release

‘Love The Way You Lie, Part 2’ Leaked

If you’re a fan of Eminem and Rihanna’s hit “Love The Way You Lie,” you’re not alone. The song has taken the country by storm ever since Eminem’s album Recovery was released earlier this year. After what many claim to be a groundbreaking music video and the best performance at this year’s VMAs, the song is still making waves. Well, there will be a Part 2. Rihanna’s highly-anticipated album, Loud, hits shelves November 16 and will feature her latest hit “Only Girl in the World” and “Love The Way You Lie Part 2.” The song has been leaked (maybe on purpose?) so check it out below (quick before it’s taken down!). What do you think? Like part 1 or 2 better? Comment below and come discuss in our FORUMS!